Government is bringing in private minibuses for passengers stranded at Dockyard today after bus drivers cancelled services.

Drivers have called off services between Watford Bridge and Dockyard after complaining it is dangerous when buses pass close to one another along Pender Road, the narrow approach to the former Naval base.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said last night he was surprised the drivers had stopped services because Government and the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) had reached an agreement on an alternative route to stop the buses passing close by one another on Pender Road.

He said the BIU had accepted that buses should go into Dockyard along Pender Road and back out along Freeport Drive, but drivers were concerned that this had not yet been surfaced and were refusing to go along it because it would be bumpy.

"That's why we're surprised they have withdrawn the service," Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette last night.

"We had had an agreement from the unions that that was the way we would go." Another alternative would be to introduce a set of traffic lights and make Pender Road one way.

The Public Transportation Board announced last night it is bringing in two private minibuses from this morning until the end of the dispute, taking passengers free of charge between Dockyard and Watford Bridge and back.

One can take 15 passengers, the other ten, and they will continue until the dispute is resolved, said Mr. Scott.

"This should be sufficient in the interim for servicing the Dockyard area." said Mr. Scott.

When asked how the drivers would respond to the private minibuses being introduced, Mr. Scott said: "Their concern is their safety and this does not jeopardise that.

"It is not the case of us negotiating this service for the public, we just don't want the public to be inconvenienced and the drivers don't want them to be inconvenienced."Drivers, unhappy with using the narrow Pender Road, stopped service late on Friday. The action continued yesterday with buses stopping at Watford bridge.

Mr. Scott said Freeport Drive needed surfacing but work would need to protect shore-side businesses who fear changes could increase the risk of flooding.

He said of the current road conditions: "It will be a little bumpy."

Widening Pender Road was not an option said Mr. Scott because listed buildings could be affected.

And he said: "Because it's a narrow road it's proved to be safe."

He said vehicles slowed down because of the tight space and accidents were relatively few, but this could change if the road is widened.

He said he had been told bus drivers would be withholding the service to Dockyard until tomorrow.

BIU leader Derrick Burgess said the action was set to continue although he refused to say for how long.

He said: "I can't say anything. I don't want to give false hopes. There is no change at present. We are trying to get it sorted out.

"The road is very narrow and it makes it very dangerous for two buses to pass or large vehicles. Works and Engineering are looking into it and I think a solution is close by."